Mountain View: Gun shop owner facing heat after firing into air while chasing alleged thief

MOUNTAIN VIEW A man has been arrested on suspicion of snatching a firearm from a gun shop Wednesday and the store owner could face his own legal trouble for reportedly firing a shot in the air while chasing him police disclosed Officers were called at p m to E s Gun Vault in the block of El Camino Real for a review of a handgun theft according to the Mountain View Police Department They arrived to find the business owner and an employee detaining a -year-old Mountain View man An initial examination determined that the man walked into the shop and right away ran out with a firearm he had not purchased police explained prompting the owner and his employee to chase the man for several blocks Related Articles Triple homicide suspect s past includes gunfire at San Jose State library San Jose defense guard arrested on suspicion of assaulting unhoused person Stanford pro-Palestine activists plead not guilty in felony vandalism episode Cupertino to ban RV parking on city streets Latest organized mass robbery assault on owner prompt San Jose city DA response During the chase police revealed the owner fired one gunshot into the air not directed at any person and soon after the man who allegedly took the firearm surrendered No injuries were stated The man accused of the theft was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of firearm theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm Jail records show he was being held in lieu of bail Police added that investigators plan to ask the county District Attorney s Office to review anticipated charges against the gun shop owner for negligent discharge of a firearm Anyone with information about the theft or shooting can contact Mountain View police Sgt David Shen at david shen mountainview gov